diff -u b/date_views/includes/date_views_filter_handler_simple.inc b/date_views/includes/date_views_filter_handler_simple.inc
--- b/date_views/includes/date_views_filter_handler_simple.inc
+++ b/date_views/includes/date_views_filter_handler_simple.inc
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
 
     // This is a relative date.
     $default_option = $prefix == 'max' ? $options['default_to_date'] : $options['default_date'];
-    $is_relative = ($this->options['is_grouped'] && isset($options[$prefix . '_choose_input_type']) && $options[$prefix . '_choose_input_type'] == 'relative') || (!empty($options['value']['type']) && $options['value']['type'] == 'relative');
+    $is_relative = ($this->options['is_grouped'] && isset($options[$prefix . '_choose_input_type']) && $options[$prefix . '_choose_input_type'] == 'relative') || (!empty($options['default_date']));
     if ($is_relative && !empty($default_option)) {
       $default_option = str_replace('now', 'today', $default_option);
       $date = date_create($default_option, date_default_timezone_object());